Load-carrying trolley



G. L.. HoxlE 1,772,005

LOAD CARRYING TROLLEY Aug. 5, 1930.

2 Sheets-511691'. rr2

Filed Oct. l, 1928 GEORGE LHOXIE.

JNVENTOR.

I Q ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1930 *Atarfor OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA o LOAD-CARRYING- .TROLLEY Application med october Liese. 'serial No. 309,577. 'n

My invention is the art ofload-carrying trolleys and comprises a stepping support for the load in orderto kpassthe supports for the track, this being usually `a cable. It is usual in trolleys in which theload is'hung from a carriage running "ona cable or track, to have the/tracky supported by curved brackets and the load also carried by oppositely curved brackets so that the carriage,

and load may pass'the support forthe track. An object of my invention is toallow-- the track, such asa cable, or y,af rigid track, to be supported from underneath and ,to have a carriage running on the track with `What might be termed a stepping hanger for the load. This hanger, on contacting with a supportingibar, be described as stepping around. the bar and supporting the load from the carriage in this operation.- In this manner, a trolley may operate ywith a load suspended below the track orcable and pass any number ofsupports f for the track or cable.

In the specific embodiment of my invention, I make use of the ordinary trolley cable support, or in some cases modify' these slightlyto suit myA carrier. I have shown a CarriagehaVing a pairy of aligned wheels forming a truck, andra load carrier havinga rotary spider with extended arms similar to the spokes of a wheel, without a rim. The truck has a segmental grooveon the saine curve as describedby outstanding lugs on the spokes of the spider. The engagement of ,these spokes in the segmental grooveis the means to support the load carrier from the carriage. n

I have a pair of these spiders with their spokes and angular lugs supporting'the load at each side of the carriage, and hanging down on opposite sidesk of the track `and thereby giving a balance support to the load. I/Vhen these arms strike a supporting bar for l the track, they become unlocked from a latch and are free to rotate, and as 'the carriage passes by the support,lthe spoke which engages the cross supporting bar is rotated out of engagement with the groove in the carriage and other arms are rotated into engagement therewith, andthereby give the load `and the clamp for the cable;

sricajf GEORGE L. HOXIE, or OAKLAND, oALrron'NrA, Assiettes To EJB; rnnnrorn, transmitan, e l

continuous support. The dogs whichhold' the spokes are arranged to engage the/support bars slightlyy in advance ofthe spokes,

and thereby free them before they contact withsuchbar... f A Y My invention comprises iny vits broader features a=1nechanical method of transport.-` ing `goods by a suspended trolley consisting inpassing the goods underneath the cross y 'b ars supporting the rail, and at the same time holding the load suspendedfrom the-` trolley carriage. f

My inventiony will be Amore clearly under'- V i stood from the following descriptionand drawings, vin which: Y u Figure l isa side view partly in sectionof a trolleycarriage, a load carrier and the Iotating spidertsuspending the carrier tromv the carriage;

Figure 2 is a vvertical section ofFigure l on the line 2-2 in' the directiony ofthe arjrows, showing on a smaller scale the trolley f carriage, the suspending spokes holdingfthe p y load carrier in the action of support for the track;

Figure 3 is a cross section of showing the crosssupport for a passing a cross cable track load.` This-figure also shows the use of a toWl j Y. y' rope; and

Figure 7 is a cross section of one of the side frames on A section similar to Figurev 2.,

My assembly comprises a trolley carriage A running on wheels which are supported on a cable track B, this latter being supported by a cross brace C. The load carrier Dhas a spider E formed of a plurality of spokes having legs which engage in a groove F in the carriage. In this manner, the carrier is sup# ported from the carriage and ymay passthe an A frame `extending inwardly as shown at 10,

supporting brace C on account of the spokes rotating when they strike this cross support.

The mechanical method of transporting a load consists broadly in moving a carriage having asuspended load carrier on a track, which latter is supported by cross braces and passing the carriage over the cross braces, and the carrier underneath, always being suspended from the carriage. Various other stepsin this kind of a process will Vbe ap parent from the detailed description of the mechanism employed.

The trolley carriage follows, reference being directed particularly to Figures 1 and 2:

Heavy side frames of substantially similar form and construction are oppositely disposed, 4and one transposed relative to the other, and preferably joined by a yoke 2 and clamp 2, which may be used to engage a tow rope. The frames have hubs 3 and el at each yend, carrying axles 5 and 6, on which r tate the trolley wheels 7 and 8. 1f desired, these wheels may be keyed on the axles and the axles rotate in suitable bearings inthe hubs. The frames each have a segmental groove 9 and have a downwardly extending recess 11, thru which pass the spokes of the spider as hereinafter described. The opposite ends of each frame are upturned at 11 to slide up on the supports if canted toone side.

An oil chamber 12 is constructed over the grooves 9 and has elevated outlets 13 with wicks 14: to oil the grooves, the oil chambers being filled thru openings 15 which may be closed by plugs. Y

Each side of the frame carries a pivoted dog 16 which is swivelly mounted on a pin 17. These dogs have notches 18 and an inclined pointed end 19 and a riding surface 19 for a purpose hereafter described. it is prefer!vr able to have these dogs mounted in a recess 2O formed between the inner' body 1 and an outer iange 22 of the frames i. A leaf spring 21 is disposed in the recess 20 above each dog 16 for pressing the dog 16 downwardly, one end of the spring being lixedly secured to the roo-f of the recess 20, while the other end thereof is slidable on the said roof so as to allow the flattening of the spring when pressed upwardly by the movement of the dog 16 over the crossing in the manner to be hereinafter set forth. In the constructionshown, the wheel axles 5 and G are used to hold the two side frames in the proper adjustment by means of the nuts 23 screwed on the threaded ends 2li of the axles. Any other equivalent manner of forming a solid frame would be suitable. No particular clamp for the tow cable is shown as these are well known in the art.

The load carrier D is constructed as fol- A is constructed asI `vated tothe position shown in line dots.y

wise direction, as indicated by the am lows, having reference particularly to Figures 1 and 2:

Heavy brackets 25, similarly formed and oppositely disposed, are joined at the bottom by a shackle and thereby form a substantial carrier frame. If desired, thiscan be formed in the shapeof yoke, and have a pin 2'? extending from side to side and secured at each end by nuts 28 or other devices to hold the brackets in'proper adjustment.

5i pair of spiders E having heavy hubs29 are rotatably mounted on the pin 27. Each of these spiders have spokes 30 with inturned lugs 31.V Attached to or integral with the spokes are projecting shoulders 32, in this caseextending outwardly from the `spokes and having a squared end 33 to engage the dogs 16, the dogs 16 being pressed against the shoulders 32 by the said'leaf spring 21. The spiders are mounted with their arms or spokes parallel and by means of a lock or key 3% turn in unison. If desired, the two spiders ymay be made as'one element instead of as separate elements, but with the construction shown, it is a simple matter to increase the spacingfapart of the spiders Vto accommodate different size trolley tracks and supporting cross bars C.

The manner of assembly and operation of the trolly carriage A and the load carrier D with the spider E is as follows:

The carriage would be assembled as above described, and placed on a track or a cable B. rlhe spokes 30 vand the inturned lugs 31 of the spiders E will be inserted into grooves 9 and slots 11 and thereby suspend theload carrier D. is above. described, the dogs 1G on each side of the carrier face in opposite directions, and engage the projecting shoul` ders 32 at their squaredends 38 in the notches 153.V By this construction, the spiders E are maintained from turningand hold the load carrier D as rigid andA fixed suspension members from the trolley carriage.

Presuming the trolley is moving in the direction of the heavy arrow in- Figurel, the inclined pointed end 19 of the pivoted dog 16 contacts with the cross brace' C, and is eie- This f ches the spider from the dogs by disengaging the vprr'ijecting shoulders and the notches 18. ylhe continued movement of the carriage contacts the cross Vbrace C with the spider arms as shown in dotted line in Figure 1, and forces the spider to rotate in a clockrhis displaces the spoke Vnear the tri` end of the carriage from the groote 9 and causes a free spoke at the leading end to enter the other end of the segmental groove. As the spoke against which the cross C contacts isr displaced from engagement with the carriage, another spoke takes its place; and the dog 16 will be forced into immer iate engagement with the spoke and held in Y ist ` proper position by the yaction of the leaf spring 2l. In this traverse of the support C underneath the carriage, thel end 33 of the shoulder 32 engages the riding surface and holds the dog 16 elevated until the spoke against which the supportcoiitacts passes the pivot pin 17, or if desired, the support C may function to hold the dog l elevated.

lt will thus be seen that the load carrier is continuously suspended from the trolley carriage, and is passed underneath the cross brace while the carriage moves over the top. This is done without any oscillating movement or raising up and down of the load carriage l). The groove 9 is actually formed on the curvature ofthe path ofthe lugs 3l. T wo arms engaging the carriage at the saine time give a satisfactory suspension for the load carrier, but if desired, the machine may be proportioned so that three or more arms will engagethe carriage.

The track structure is constructed follows, having reference particularly to Figures 3,4 and 5: y

ln Figure 3 an A frame or truss is shown having similar legs 40, crossbar 41 and .the cross brace C holding the track 42. This cross brace and track support comprises a plurality of saddles 43 having formed integral therewith an internally screw threaded lug 44 in which is mounted a screw 45 having an eye 46. rlhis is connected to the legs 40 by a cable or bolt 47. The saddles areY tightly clamped together by bolts 48 and are bell mouthed at their ends to prevent cliaiing.

A turn or corner is illustrated in Figure 5,

in which the saddles 50 are curved sov as to lead the cable forming the track around an angle. ln this construction it is advisable to have the saddles straight, that is, in a tangent at the cross brace, in order that the trolley carriage may be passing in a straight. line in moving thru this support.

In the detail shown in Figure 6two trolley carriages and their load carriers are shown supporting an elongated load 5l, which may be a log, by cables, clamps or the like 52 secured tothe lower part of the brackets 25. In this case, a tow cable 53 is illustrated,being connected to the trolley carriage and thereby moving the load along the track. The tow cable 53 may also be secured at the pin 2G below the cable B. n

v lt will be obvious that my invention may be materially modified without departing from the spirit thereof to suit special requirements and different sizes or dimensions of vtrolley carriages and load carriers required. lf it is necessary to extend the width of the trolley kcarriage or load carrier, the spokes of the spider may pass on the outside of the car-V riage and their engaging lugs extend 'in,

wardly.

l claim: l. A trolley conveyor, comprising in comadapted to engage the' notches of the said dogs, said dogs beingv positioned to contact bination a trolleycarriage, wheelsl thereon,l c

a Vcurved groove inthe carriage, a load carrier, a suspension device ltosupport theload carrier from the carriage, said suspension def.v

vice having arspider comprising aseries .of spokes, lugs on the endsofsaid-spokes, said lugsbeing adapted ltov allow a cross supportV for track to pass between thecarriage and the lead carrier, and dogs pivotally-mounted `in the trolley carriage adapted to -liold the spokes in a fixed position andto be disengaged from the spokes ony contact with said cross ,l

support. if i Q2. A trolley `conveyor, comprising in combination a trolley `carriage `havingf'side frames, wheels mounted therebetween, curved grooves iii each side frame, pivoted dogs 0n each side frame having notches and a. pointed end, a load carrier having a transverse pin, lrotary spiders rotatively mounted on said pin, spokes forming the spiderrhavinglugs on the end of each spoke, said lugs engaging and moving in the curved grooves inthe said side frames', and having projecting shoulders with a cross -brace of a track, disengage the spider spokes and be held in elevatedposition while the conveyor moves past the cross brace.

8. A trolley conveyor as claimed in claim 2,

liaving a lubricating chamber and means t0 convey lubricant to the grooves in the side frames.

4. A trolley carriage comprising a carriage frame, a pair of sheaves or wheels pivotally mounted and disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said frame, a pair of star wheels, each comprising a hub, a plurality of arms radiating from said liub, lugs intermediately disposed on said arms adapted to engage a pawl,

carrier lugs at the extremities of said arms, f

said star wheels being pivotally mounted in a hanger frame, inwardly facing arcuate channels formed in said carriage frame, said clianu els being adapted to cooperate with said carrier lugs, pawls oppositely disposed and piv-otally mounted on said carriageframe,

and so disposed as to oppositely engage said intermediately disposed lugs on said star wheels, said pawls being so disposed vand* vformed as to release saidstar wheels by c0- action with a track support member, previous to operation of said star wheel by said track f support member.

5. The combination with a cable provided witlitransverse supports, cf a trolley adapted and engage in said arcuate channels in said Carriage rame,1neans for locking said Wheels against rotation, said means being released by cooperation with said transverse supports, 5 reurnng to locking position after said car- 'rage has passed over said transverse support, Said star Wheels being pvotally mounted n a hanger frame and oppostely disposedV relagv'e' to Said Gable,` and means Cooperating With 10 either said Carriage frame or said hanger v frame for drawing said carriage along said Gable.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE L. HOXIE. 

